Malik Nabers admitted that calling the New York Giants “soft” after their disappointing loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a mistake, but he still believes it’s important to speak out when necessary.
After speaking with coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen and reviewing video of the Giants’ 30-7 defeat, Nabers said on Tuesday that using the word “soft” was not the best choice.
“I don’t think it was really soft. I think it was just a lack of technique,” Nabers explained. “We were playing our butts off, we just lacked technique.”
The Giants (2-9) were down 23-0 at halftime and had only run 19 plays on offense. Nabers wasn’t targeted in the first half but ended up leading the team with six catches for 64 yards.
As the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, Nabers said his comments after the game — where he mentioned that the quarterbacks were not at fault for the team’s poor performance — came from his competitive nature.
“That’s just how I’m wired. That’s just who I am,” Nabers said. “I just don’t like losing. If I feel like I had an opportunity to help the team win, I’m going to express that.”
Nabers also shared that not being targeted in the first half was difficult because he wasn’t able to get in the rhythm of the game.
“You’re not getting involved early, then you’re not getting the feel of the ball, you’re not getting hit,” Nabers said. “After football plays as an offense, after you get hit, you’re like, ‘All right, I’m ready to go.’”
Nabers, who leads the team with 67 catches — the most by a player in his first nine NFL games — said he sees himself as someone who can make a big difference for the Giants.
“I’m not going to just sit back just because I’m a younger guy and not speak on how I feel,” Nabers said. “They want me to speak up. They feel like my energy helps the offense, in a way, to be explosive. So, of course, I’m going to speak up if something doesn’t go my way. That’s just how I am.”
